I Buy From the Damned
I buy from the damned
watch their eyes glow red
as they stuff my shekels
into their ash lined pockets
watch their eyes glow red
as they stuff my shekels
into their ash lined pockets
and somewhere
a stock index sets off an alarm
a stock index sets off an alarm
I buy from the damned
the polluted wares of a poisoned earth
arsenic peaches, strychnine milk
a piece of wormy ham for a bony dog
the polluted wares of a poisoned earth
arsenic peaches, strychnine milk
a piece of wormy ham for a bony dog
I buy from the damned
watch their gleeful smiles
as their poison passes from their hands
to mine
watch their gleeful smiles
as their poison passes from their hands
to mine
Yet they do not thrive
they do not increase and multiply
waddling back to their warehouses
gimpy legs and ulcerated hearts
they do not increase and multiply
waddling back to their warehouses
gimpy legs and ulcerated hearts
enriched but not redeemed
I buy from the damned
the last shriveled fruits of a necrotic world
and I steal back into the hold
the last shriveled fruits of a necrotic world
and I steal back into the hold
After the prayers are said
and death has again been sent into exile
and every purchase consecrated
into its holy form
succulent, sacred
sanctified
and death has again been sent into exile
and every purchase consecrated
into its holy form
succulent, sacred
sanctified
I light a candle and close the shutters
against the descending storm
against the descending storm
--Janet Phelan
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